Improvement in sleeping-cars



Patented Nov". 5

W. E. GOWDY.

mi m m m A/r FHUTO-LITHOGHAPHIC CO,N.Y.(DSBORNE PROCESS.)

Improvement in Sleeping-Cars.

'r'rns PATENT FFICE.

WILLIAM E. GOWDY, OF WALDEN, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN SLEEPING-CARS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. l32,25, dated November 5, 1872.

provement in SleepingOars, of which the fol-A lowing is a specification:

In the accompanying drawing, Figure l represents a portion oi' the interior of a sleepingcar illustrating my invention. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the same taken through the Y line w Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a detail section of the same taken through the line y y, Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrow.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

My invention has for its object to improve the construction of sleeping-cars in such a Way that each berth may be closed as securely as a state-room; and it consists in the construction and combination of various parts, as hereinafter more fully described.

A represents the side of a car, and B the seats. The car is divided into compartments by cross-partitions O, the lower edges of which rest and lit upon the backs of the sea-ts B, and their upper edges iit against the ceiling of the car, where they are kept in place by slotted or grooved guides attached to the ceiling. The front of each compartment or berth is formed ot three panels, D E F. The outer panels, D F, are hinged at their lower ends to the bottoms of the seats B at their outeriarms, so that they may be turned down upon the bottoms of the seats B, and turned up into a vertical position when required for use. The central panel, E, is hinged, at one of its side edges, to the side edge of one of the panels D F, so that it may be turned up and down with the panel to which it is hinged. When the panels are turned down the panel E may be folded back upon the panel to which it is hinged. When the panels D E F are raised into a vertical position the central panel, E, serves as a door.

The upper ends of the panels D E F, when raised into a vertical position, are bolted to the platform G, which forms the bottom of the upper berth. The platform G is hinged, at its outer edge, tothe side A of the car or to a rail attached to said side, so that when not in use its forward edge may be turned up against and secured to the ceiling of the car. The platform G is designed to have panels similar to the panels D E F hinged to the upper side of its forward edge, which, when not required for use, are turned down upon its upper side.

By this construction when the panels D E F are turned down upon the bottoms of the seats, and the cushions replaced upon said seats, the

,panels will be entirely out of the way. By this construction, also, all the parts that require to be detached and removed are the partitions O. This construction makes the berths or compartments of a sleeping-car become as secure as a state-room, and the occupant, when he has bolted the panels upon the inside, can sleep in safety.

Having thus described my invent-ion, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The hinged panels D E F, constructed and arranged in connection with the compartments ot' a sleeping-car, substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

2. The detachable partitions O, constructed, substantially as herein shown and described, to adapt them for use in connection with the backs of the seats B, the hinged panels D E F, and the hinged platform G for in closing the compartments or berths of a sleeping-car, as

set forth.

WILLIAM E. GOWDY.

Witnesses:

J Arms T. GRAHAM, T. B. MOSER. 

